Soft Drink Nostalgia: Top Coca-Cola Vending Machines And Fridges For Your Home

While not the real antiques, these Coca-Cola machines still rate high on the nostalgia factor.

If you watch Pawn Stars, American Pickers, or Antiques Roadshow, you've seen how collectible antique Coca-Cola vending machines are. These are some super looking pieces of soft drink nostalgia, carrying the vibe of simpler times while featuring the always uber-popular symbol of cola happiness--the Coca-Cola logo. Getting your hands on one of the real things is a tough road. Good luck scouring farms, yard sales, and flea markets on the treasure hunt. And when you find one, it's likely to need thousands of dollars in restoring. Without deep pockets, it's a pretty steep price to pay in time, energy, and money.

But if all you're after is the cool nostalgic vibe, you can go another way. There are many modern Coca-Cola vending machines and fridges that are made for home use and crafted with old-school nostalgia in mind. If you love the nostalgic look, but don't care about the historic or monetary value of an antique, this is the perfect solution for you. What might have cost thousands is now a much more affordable sum, down to less than $50 in for some options! That's a big difference.

Below are my top five for Coca-Cola vending machines and Coca-Cola refrigerators out there today. Some are super economical, others are a little more pricey--but boy are they all show stoppers. And they are just a small drop in the bucket compared to the real antique. These are great gifts for the nostalgia geek or the Coke fanatic, and they look great in a kitchen, office, or man cave.

Popular: The Koolatron Coca-Cola Vending Fridge

It hits all the right buttons

Now this is real vending machine style. You tap a button and the soda can is dispensed just like you'd see in its bigger brothers out in the wild. The Coca-Cola red, the brand logo, the simply shaped white handle, and the famous "ICE COLD" wording all stand out to give it a look that's right on the money in terms of nostalgia.

In total this machine holds ten cans in all, and you can mix and match soda varieties as there's a button next to each level that you see through the windowed area. Five total buttons for five different flavors. The machine's profile is not big at all: twelve inches in width, about eighteen inches in length, and a little more than two feet tall. That's small enough to feature on a table to showcase this beauty.

Budget And Space Friendly: The Koolatron Coca-Cola 6-Can Mini Fridge

Featuring the things that make the brand great

If money (or space) is tight, this is the Coca-Cola refrigerator to give a long look at. It comes in less than a foot in any dimension, and it's priced below $50. Inside it holds up to six regular-sized soda cans (twelve ounce, not the bigger plastic bottles).

But while the price and size is small, it still features the things that make the Coca-Cola brand sing. The logo area steps it up with the entire catch phrase "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" instead of just the logo itself. It features the "ICE COLD" wording at the bottom of the fridge. And the vivid red really stands out, as does the slightly pill-shaped design. It all adds up to a lot of nostalgia in a small package. It's obviously a great choice for smaller spaces like dorm rooms, work spaces, and dens.

The Head Turner: American Retro Classic Coca-Cola Refrigerated Machine

For when the serious double-take is the desired reaction

Want an old-school Coca-Cola machine that's as close a replica to the real thing as can be? Get a load of this. American Retro really cut no corners when it comes to delivering this classic refrigerator. It's nearly an exact replica of the vending refrigerators that corner stores used in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. That's very cool for a statement piece in a home or office. It's a serious investment, but you get a really stunning machine for the money. This is a no brainer head turner to say the least.

It holds up to 80 cans of Coke (don't you think of placing Pepsi products in this showcase piece!), and it's branded from all angles. Seriously, the Coca-Cola logo is featured on every side and even underneath the lid. Plus you get on the front and back sides the famous "ICE COLD" wording.

The Modern Touch: Koolatron Coca-Cola Fridge With LED Display

A cool mix of classic looks with modern displays

If you like your classic toys to have a bit of modern comfort, you'll definitely prefer this Coca-Cola mini-fridge. It's got a slightly rounded style that's played up by the use of Coca-Cola's 1929 slogan "The Pause That Refreshes". But there's a big thumbs up for the LED push button controls that let you know exactly how cold your drinks are.

The profile of this machine is really small: a bit more that a foot in width and depth, and about eighteen inches tall. That's small enough to use in tinier rooms, but it's got a decent amount of storage space too--holding twenty-eight cans in total. If you want your machine to have a bit more function compared to form, that can storage is a pretty big deal.

The circle windows and cool retro buttons just work

Another mini-fridge, but this one--like its cousin featured first on this list above--has actual vending buttons. It comes in slightly shorter and stouter, though, making it an excellent solution when height is an issue.

Personally I love the circle windows of this machine. It just feels very retro. When paired with the Coca-Cola red and the typical logo and "ICE COLD" phrasing, it ranks nearly up there with the American Retro refrigerator vending machine in terms of cool factor.

But really you can't go wrong with any of these cool Coca-Cola vending machines. If you're into nostalgic home decor or want a mini-fridge with a bit of smart style, these all work well. With all the buzz they are getting from the antiques shows on TV, their popularity is only going to continue to grow around the home. Like the ad execs of Coca-Cola said in 1948, "Where There's A Coke, There's Hospitality!"